Family Staycation: Try a hotel

Instead of spending a wallet full of cash on a getaway far from home, why not try a family staycation this year in a hotel in your own town, or a nearby city? There are so many benefits to consider on top of the cost savings, like…

• You can play tourist without actually being a tourist, exploring your city with whole new eyes. This is a great way for your children to really get to know the city, too. Use the hotel’s many brochures to check out the most notable attractions and visit them (especially the free ones!).
• Take advantage of hotel offers that include free meals so you don’t have to spend more money eating out or pack a bunch of food to bring with you. One of my family’s favorite things about experiencing anything new is to sample the food, but hotel food still counts!
• You can get away without driving too far or flying, effectively changing your environment and experiencing something new without extra time and stress spent on travel.
• If you have pets, you don’t have to pay a sitter to take care of them. You can go home to quickly care for them as needed or even take your pets with you if the hotel allows it.

Have you ever had a family staycation at a local hotel? If so, which chain do you recommend, if any, and do you have any tips for families who want to take advantage of this opportunity?

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia